Salvia plant named ‘BBSAL00301’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Salvia  plant named ‘BBSAL00301’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong dark greyed purple-colored lateral branches; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; upright inflorescences with dark red purple-colored flowers with dark greyed purple-colored sepals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Salvia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBSAL00301’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant, botanically known as Salvia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBSAL00301’.

The new Salvia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Salvia plants with attractive leaves and flowers and good garden performance.

The new Salvia plant originated from a cross-pollination of a proprietary selection of Salvia hybrida identified as code number 14SALB090-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Salvia hybrida ‘BBSAL09001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,206, as the male, or pollen, parent on Oct. 26, 2015. The new Salvia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 26, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Salvia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in Bonsall, Calif., since Jul. 28, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Salvia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Salvia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBSAL00301’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBSAL00301’ as a new and distinct Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Strong dark greyed purple-colored lateral branches.     -   5. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   6. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   7. Upright inflorescences with dark red purple-colored flowers         with dark greyed purple-colored sepals.     -   8. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching and denser         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Salvia have stronger and sturdier lateral         branches than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Salvia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have magenta-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘BBSAL09001’. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of ‘BBSAL09001’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching and denser         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Salvia have stronger and sturdier lateral         branches than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Salvia have larger and longer flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of Salvia hybrida ‘Amistad’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,578. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Salvia differ from plants of ‘Amistad’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more compact and upright in         plant habit than plants of ‘Amistad’.     -   2. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching and denser         than plants of ‘Amistad’.     -   3. Plants of the new Salvia have stronger and sturdier lateral         branches than plants of ‘Amistad’.     -   4. Plants of the new Salvia have broader and darker         green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Amistad’.

Plants of the new Salvia can also be compared to plants of Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Salvia differ from plants of ‘Black and Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching and denser         than plants of ‘Black and Blue’.     -   2. Plants of the new Salvia have stronger and sturdier lateral         branches than plants of ‘Black and Blue’.     -   3. Plants of the new Salvia flower earlier than plants of ‘Black         and Blue’.     -   4. Plants of the new Salvia and ‘Black and Blue’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Black and Blue’ have blue-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Salvia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Salvia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBSAL00301’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBSAL00301’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Salvia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. Plants were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrida ‘BBSAL00301’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia             hybrida identified as code number 14SALB090-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Salvia hybrida ‘BBSAL09001’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,206. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four to five days at             temperatures about 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to nine days at             temperatures about 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to             four weeks at temperatures about 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to             five weeks at temperatures about 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown             as a container and garden plant; upright plant habit;             uniform and vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching with about two to             three primary lateral branches each with about eight to ten             secondary lateral branches per plant; bushy and dense             appearance.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 30             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 51             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 38 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm to 5 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 4.8 cm.             Strength: Strong and sturdy. Aspect: Mostly upright to about             45° from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.             Color, developing: Close to 146B; at the internodes, close             to 183A. Color, developed: Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 7 cm.         -   Shape.—Somewhat cordate to deltoid.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Shallowly cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Scattered fine             pubescence, slightly rough; slightly glossy.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Fine pubescence, slightly rough;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Minute pubescence; slightly glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 200C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single bilabiate flowers             arranged on erect terminal and axillary racemes; freely             flowering habit with about 108 flowers developing per             inflorescence and more than 1,100 flowers developing per             plant during the flowering season; flowers face upward to             mostly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about seven weeks after planting; plants             flower from spring until frost in an outdoor nursery in             Michigan.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to five days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Elongate. Texture and luster: Minute scattered             pubescence; matte. Color: Close to N79A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 23 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm by 18 mm.         -   Flower length.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 3 mm by 5 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm by 8 mm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals with two upper petals fused             forming a galea and three lower petals fused forming a             broader lower protruding lip. Upper galea length: About             1.6 cm. Upper galea width: About 6 mm. Lower lip length:             About 1.3 cm. Lower lip width: About 8 mm. Shape: Upper             galea, hooded; lower lip, rounded. Apex: Round. Base: Fused             into a narrow tube. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Minute pubescence; slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, throat: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, tube: Sparsely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 72A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             71A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 70A; venation,             close to 70A; color does not fade with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 71A; venation, close to 71A;             color does not fade with development. Throat: Close to 70B;             venation, close to 70B. Tube: Close to N79C; venation, close             to N79C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused to form a tubular             bilabiate calyx. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 7 mm.             Sepal length: About 6 mm. Sepal width: About 7 mm. Sepal             shape: Roughly lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, inner surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, outer             surface: Scattered pubescence; matte. Color: When developing             and fully developed, inner surface: Close to 187B. When             developing and fully developed, outer surface: Close to             187A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect to about 45° to 55°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 183B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 30° to 55° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Fine pubescence; matte. Color:             Close to 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two.             Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             N80D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther size: About 1 mm by             4 mm. Anther color: Close to N79C. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 155B. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 4.4 cm. Stigma shape: Bipartite.             Stigma color: Close to N79B. Style length: About 4 cm. Style             color: Close to N80B, N80C and N80D to close to NN155A.             Ovary color: Close to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Salvia plant. -   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Salvia have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Salvia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Salvia have exhibited good     garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind, low     temperatures about 2° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone     10a to 11b. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant named ‘BBSAL00301’ as illustrated and described. 